I think the older I get, the more "Scrooge-like" I get. I'm sitting here at Perkins, enjoying some alone time and recharging for the week ahead. They are playing Christmas music. Hmmm. It's December 2nd.

Two men recently passed my booth and said, "Merry Christmas!" (not to me, to each other) I wanted to tell them, "It's not Christmas. We've barely passed Thanksgiving. Give me a minute to collect myself before we rush headlong into Christmas."

But alas the world rushes on. And little old (yes I said old!) me, well I'm finding myself somewhat powerless to stop it.

Either my memory is really faulty and I just don't remember well or it was a lot different when I was a kid. I don't remember this headlong rush to Christmas. I remember longing for the day with great anticipation. But it didn't start after Labor Day. (well okay for me it started December 26, and with a renewed passion on March 13th but I didn't see it in the stores nor on tv.)

I was in KMart before Halloween and they were putting up Christmas items. It's not even Halloween. I believe I even said that while in KMart. I believe I also got some very strange looks.

Ohhh now this song, this song I could get used to. Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas." I don't care who you are, ain't no one sings like my Bing. (yes I know that rhymes...planned it that way)

This holiday season, know what I'm dreaming of? A slower pace of life. A chance to really enjoy the season as an adult. A "not having to do all, be all and be happy about it" time. A time for reflection before the Christmas tree lights that blink off and on.

I've been told it only gets worse as the children age. More places to go, more things to be done, more parties to attend.

Call me idealistic, but I don't think it necessarily has to. True, life does march on and we can either march along with it or face the consequences. But it does not have to move at break-neck speed. Life does not have to move at the speed of light.

Have you ever noticed, we are busier than ever, yet we are not accomplishing much of anything. How many times has someone asked me, "How was your week?" To which I respond, "Busy. I'm not sure busy doing what but it was busy." And they nod, knowing exactly what I mean. Why are we so very busy and yet we have nothing to show for it besides trumped up and maxed out credit cards.

We work and work and work, and fall farther and farther behind. What are we busy accomplishing? Why are we busy attempting to accomplish it? Why are we afraid to step back and say, "That's enough for now." and be done with the headlong rush to an early grave.

As a society we are so busy keeping up with the Jones', that we don't even know who they are anymore. We feel tremendous pressure (I'm convinced 99% of it is internal) to be more and do more in hopes we will somehow attain the status of "Chief Jones" and the rest of the world will continue to rush headlong to conform to us. However, we aren't content to stay there and rest. No, we've got to continue to stress and strive for more..why? To keep our status. And we die...from a self-inflicted shot of stress.

You know Jesus says, "Don't be conformed to this world". So why in the world are we? He says, "Be transformed by renewing your mind." Why don't we? I think, no I'm convinced the only way we are going to stop the madness (not only of this season but of life) is to transform our thinking. To transform our thinking we must transform our minds. To do that? It's gonna take a Herculean effort and time.

That precious commodity no one has enough of. Time with Jesus. Renewing our minds...for our time.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR,
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Virginia, I had to come and look for you for a different reason, but I'm so glad I read this. I'm definitely taking it to heart. (If you ever become a 500 member, please let me know. I also edit FaithWriters' Magazine, and we only use 500 member material. So if you ever become one, make sure I know--okay?).

Anyway, the reason I need to leave a message for you is to do with your entry in the Writing Challenge this week. It was over the maximum word count allowed (750 words) and had to be removed. If you are willing, could you trim it down by about 25 words and re-enter it? If you do that, it will be fine.